Recognize the Signs of Stress
You probably know that chronic stress can wreak havoc on your mind and body. Did you also know unmanaged stress can lead to long-term health problems and even death? Learn more from the Mayo Clinic here.
We all have bad days from time to time and feel the temporary effects of stress like tension headaches, tight shoulders, sleep disruptions, etc…. That is normal. With April being Stress Awareness Month, I want to help you recognize if your stress has transitioned from a temporary situation to a permanent condition.
If you are having problems for a couple of weeks or more in the areas below, your stress is moving to a permanent condition. Those areas are:
Cognitive – memory problems, poor judgement, inability to concentrate, brain fog, indecision, starting many tasks but achieving little, and self-doubt
Emotional – moodiness, irritability, fatalistic thinking, panic, cynicism, feeling overwhelmed, and frustration
Physical – chest pain, rapid heartbeat, aches and pains, frequent colds, skin issues, indigestion, and high blood pressure
Behavioral – isolating yourself from others, sleeping too little or too much, demotivated, loss of sense of humor, and increased intake of alcohol, cigarettes, drugs, or caffeine
The free resource of these Express Desk Stretch videos is a tool you can use to make a dent in managing your stress. In my next two posts, I will introduce you to a specific process for managing stress in the moment and managing stress long-term. You don’t want to miss it.
Click here for this week’s video
In case you are interested, I recently found an assessment through the American Institute of Stress called the Rosch Stress Profiler . I was curious to see what my stress levels were. NOTE: I have no affiliation with them, nor am I endorsing them in any way. I am sharing this resource in case you want to try it yourself. The cost is $19.95. I have linked my results here in case you would like to see what an output looks like. I need to work on time management! :-)
Inquiry Question: What is something you can say to yourself when you feel stressed to minimize its impact on you in the moment?
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